Don't cut our programs and educators, many argue at meeting where they expected to hear task force recommendations.

March 24, 2011|By Arlene Martínez, OF THE MORNING CALL

Teachers, parents and community members at the Allentown School Board meeting Thursday expected to hear task force recommendations countering an administration proposal to overhaul academics — a move that would cut dozens of classes and lay off numerous teachers.

Instead, they were directed to the district's website, where the Academic Task Force's recommendations were posted Tuesday.

That didn't stop many of the about 100 people in attendance from lashing out against Superintendent Gerald Zahorchak's Program of Studies, unveiled at last month's Education Committee meeting. Nor did it stop them from assailing the proposed district layoffs, with rumors flying that that number could approach 300.

"I have a class with 34 students. What will that number be next year if cuts are made?" said Eric Wilburn, a seventh-grade social studies teacher at Harrison-Morton Middle School.

"Please make sure you consider all the consequences" before letting teachers go, he said.

Zahorchak declined to comment on how many positions would be cut, but that number is likely to be released Thursday, when the board will hold a special meeting to vote on the 2011-12 Program of Studies. The meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium of South Mountain Middle School at 709 W. Emmaus Ave.

Criticism was fierce when Zahorchak released the Program of Studies, which places a heavier emphasis on math, English and science. It significantly reduces the number of electives, including mythology, film, anatomy, astronomy and several criminal justice courses.

So in response, the district formed 10 discussion groups made up of taxpayers, parents and teachers. Each group met twice and submitted answers to district-prepared questions that included, for example, their top five concerns about the proposed elimination and consolidation of courses and — from a list of available courses — which 10 classes they would like to keep.

Edward White, who has two children in the district, served on one of the task forces.

"I'm very concerned I've received no feedback," White said. "The administration has done a poor job of communicating where we are in the process."

Even board President Jeff Glazier thought the board would be hearing the conclusions of the task force, though he received a copy of the executive summary before Thursday's meeting.

"It was the administration's decision to put it on the Web," Glazier said. "I would respect that."

Zahorchak said the district is listening to the community, pointing out he dropped the notion of a Collegiate High — a small magnet school for academically gifted students from Allen and Dieruff high schools — because of its unpopularity.

Others who spoke criticized the district for being top-heavy.

"Why don't we look at the administration?" said Heather Schmidt, a paraprofessional at Dodd Elementary.

Another resident, Janice Bowman, circulated a page that included the purported salaries of dozens of administrators. Bowman said as a taxpaying citizen, recent raises were way too high.

Also Thursday, the board approved a resolution calling on Harrisburg to give Allentown the "necessary funding" to enable every student to "reach proficiency and be career- or college-ready."

Board members Julie Ambrose and Glazier prepared the resolution along with Zahorchak. Ambrose said it was her intent the resolution not point the finger at any one person, but rather note the challenges faced by a district with a high number of low-income people and English-language learners.